ἀπεκδύομαι

I strip, divest, renounce

Definition

ἀπεκδύομαι (apekdyomai) means to strip off, divest oneself of, or renounce something, often with a sense of forceful removal or decisive action. In Colossians 2:15, it describes God's act of 'stripping off' or 'disarming' the spiritual powers and authorities through Christ's cross, portraying a public and complete victory. In Colossians 3:9, the word is used in an ethical sense, instructing believers to 'have stripped off' the old self with its practices, indicating a past, definitive break with a former way of life. Thus, the term carries both a cosmic, redemptive meaning and a personal, moral application.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only twice in the New Testament, both in Paul's letter to the Colossians. In Colossians 2:15, it is used in aorist middle/passive participle form to describe God's triumphant action against hostile spiritual forces. In Colossians 3:9, it appears as an aorist middle indicative, used as an imperative to command believers regarding their own moral transformation. The pattern shows a movement from describing God's objective work in Christ to prescribing the believer's subjective response.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἀπό (apo, meaning 'away from') and the verb ἐκδύω (ekdyō, meaning 'to strip off' or 'take off', as in clothing). The compound intensifies the sense of removal or stripping away. It is the opposite of ἐνδύω (endyō, 'to clothe' or 'put on'), a contrast Paul explicitly uses in the context of Colossians 3.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant for understanding both Christ's victory and Christian sanctification. In Colossians 2:15, it vividly portrays Christ's conquest over sin, death, and demonic powers as a decisive, public stripping of their authority—a core component of the 'Christus Victor' atonement theme. In Colossians 3:9, it grounds the believer's ethical life in this finished work; putting off the old self is not a self-help project but a living out of what Christ has already accomplished. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by connecting the cosmic victory of the cross to the practical call to holiness.

The imagery of 'stripping off' would resonate in a culture where changing garments signified a change in role, status, or identity (e.g., putting on armor, mourning clothes, or festal robes). In Colossians 2:15, the metaphor may also draw on the public humiliation of a defeated enemy, whose weapons and armor were taken as spoils. This cultural backdrop makes the terms of victory and identity change more vivid.

ἐκδύω (ekdyō, G1562) — The simpler root verb meaning 'to take off' (e.g., clothing), without the intensive prefix ἀπό. ἀποτίθημι (apotithēmi, G659) — Also means 'to put off' but is a more general term for laying aside, often used for sinful behaviors (Ephesians 4:22, Colossians 3:8).

Word Details

Scripture References